HomeMy WebLinkAboutP&Z Minutes 2005-06-06 SpecialMinutes of a Special Meeting
of the
Friendswood Planning and Zoning Commission
June 6, 2005
A special meeting of the Friendswood Planning and Zoning Commission was held
Monday, June 6, 2005, at 7:00 p.m. in the city hall council chambers located at 910 S.
Friendswood Drive, Friendswood, Texas. The following members were present:
David Brakebill
Bob Bertrand
Jim Gibson
Roy Klusendorf
Mark Van Riper
Sherry Weesner
Loren Smith-City Attorney
Mike Hodge-Director of C.D. and P.W.
Dan Johnson-Deputy Director of C.D.
Diana Steelquist-Planner
Cheri Skelton-Development Coordinator
With a quorum present, Chairman Holland absent, Commissioner Be1trand called the
meeting to order to consider the following.
7:00 P.M.-DOCKETED JOINT PUBLIC HEARING
1.To receive public input, either oral or written regarding the following:
A.A request for a zone classification change for 0.3788 acres, 206 E.
Shadowbend more or less, being part of Lot Twelve (12) in Block Two (2) of
Friendswood, also know as Tract 5 of Collins-Friendswood, an unrecorded
subdivision in Galveston County, TX; From: Multi-Family Residential
Medium (MFR-M) to: Multi-Family Residential-Low (MFR-L).
Michael Pina, 11811 Gulf Point Drive addressed the City Council and
Commission. Mr. Pina stated he wants to rezone the prope1ty in order to
build a two-unit townhome.
No one spoke in favor of the zone change request.
The following is a synopsis of the public input against the against the zone
change request.
Bill Trump, 209 E. Shadowbend lives across the street from the property and
stated he chose his homesite because he wanted to live in town on a beautiful
lot. Be does not want to see a duplex built on the lot across the street from
him and his family.
Rae Powell, 201 E. Shadowbend agreed with Mr. Trump regarding the
rezoning request.
Page 1 of 5
6/6/05 P & Z
William Whipkey, 207 Shady Nook stated he does not want the property to
change but if it does, it should be changed to Single Family Residential.
Daryl Sasser, 210 E. Magnolia, bought his property to create a better area for
his family to live, this rezoning to will diminish property values and he is
against the rezoning request.
B.A request for a zone cl assification change for 2.147 acres, 1501 Winding
Way, situated in the Sarah McKissick League, Abstract No. 151, being out of
and a part of Lot 4, Block 8, Antoinette Voss Subdivision, Galveston,
County, TX; From: Single Family Residential (SFR) to: Office Park District
(OPD).
Richm·d Peterson, 5307 Whittier Oaks addressed the City Council and
Planning and Zoning Commission. Mr. Peterson stated he has been a resident
of Friendswood for 37 years and his partner has been a resident of
Friendswood for 9 years. He and his partner have a vested interest in the
property because they also own the property across the street at 1401
·winding Way. He explained he started his busi ness 5 years ago, which is
logistics operation. His company works with shipping through the Pmt of
Houston, and the business primarily is conducted by using the computer and
telephone. He also stated that there are no deliveries to the office except for
office suppl ies and customers do not even come to the office. Mr. Peterson
then began to discuss the zoning of Friendswood and restrictions placed on
properties. He explained that Office Park District (OPD) is a zone used by
the City as a buffer to Single Family Residential (SFR). If rezoning did
occur, the City's requirements would not allow a four-story glass building to
be constructed on the property. He stated 6 out of the 10 properties within
200 feet of the property are already zoned for commercial use.
The following is a synopsis of those who spoke in favor of the zone change
request.
Pamula Beeth, 5303 Whittier Oaks spoke about the integrity of Mr. Peterson.
She stated the Pilgrim's Point Subdivision could not have a better neighbor.
The following is a synopsis of the people who spoke against the zone change
request.
Steve Baughman, 202 Cha rleston stated the only thing about the property that
makes it close to being commercial is that the property driveway is on
Winding Way. He announced that if Mr. Peterson wanted to live there and
constructed a driveway · on Charleston he would put it in himself. Mr.
Baughman also listed the loss of quietness to the neighborhood and that the
property encroaches into the subdivision as other reasons he was against the
zone change.
Page 2 of 5
6/6/05 P & Z
f : Don Glasgow, 109 Charleston stated the prope1ty owner has engaged in
mistrust with the residents of the subdivision and the home is pait of the
subdivision. He also stated he did not see any support for the rezoning.
Ca1Tie Hunnicutt, 1804 San Jose stated when people buy prope1ty they buy on
the basis of what they see at that time. This rezoning should be denied.
Sean Tracey, 402 Charleston stated this rezoning is a train wreck waiting to
happen because eventually Mr. Peterson will get rid of the property. In
addition the subdivision has only one way in and one way out and that is onto
Winding Way. He also stated that prope1ty values of Charleston would
diminish.
Rebecca Yeater, 206 Chai·leston thanked Staff for having the meeting with
the homeowners of the subdivision. She stated she is a homeowner and a
developer. Her concern from a citizen's standpoint is the prope1ty values
decreasing. From a developer's standpoint she understands an owner would
want to get the maximum developable square footage of prope1ty usage when
developing. She does not want to see the maximum developable squai·e
footage allowed for this property consumed. If rezoning is granted than
others will want to do the same to residential properties. In addition she
stated the rezo_ning process from residential to commercial is too easy.
Stephen Newcomb, 406 Charleston stated there ai·e safety concerns. The
rezoning will create an impact on 34 homes, Mr. Peterson was misleading
and the rezoning would not stop anyone in the future from tearing down the
home and building something else on the property. He also stated the
rezoning does not suppo1t Vision 2020 and does not meet the city's goals.
Richard Melancon, 403 Charleston stated prope1ty values will decrease,
devaluing the prope1ties and the city will lose revenue. He also stated that the
use of the property may change in the future and traffic could then be an issue
if it is not now. Chaifoston is a one street subdivision and they do not want
pai·king lots and loading docks in their subdivision.
John Morawski, 103 Chai·leston stated turning the prope1ty into commercial
devalues the surrounding prope1ties. Safety, traffic and entry onto Winding
Way are also concerns.
Alt Williams, 306 Chaifoston stated he questions the integrity of the owners.
In addition if the forefathers of the property had it as i·esidential, that is how it
should remain.
Joan Cooper, 210 Chaifoston identified what she called a clear dividing line
on Winding Way to Charleston. She would also like for the current zone of
Page 3 of 5
6/6/05 P & Z
the property to stay the same.
Loren Shriver, 108 Charleston stated he had the same concerns already
expressed by others. Then he stated he did not see what the city had to gain
by allowing this to be commercial. He feels rezoning 1501 Winding Way wiil
not support the Vision 2020 goals and the rezoning is unethical.
Janell Keith, 101 Charleston agreed with everything that had previously been
stated. She stated she had additional safety concerns because her child has
severe vision problems and other disabilities. Their property is the first lot in
the subdivision and more traffic on Winding Way is a concern. She also
stated that the area has become so commercialized that if she tried to sell she
would have problems.
Wade Keith, 101 Charleston stated the 1501 \Vinding Way property is
beautiful and he would hate for it to be rezoned. He understands ethics of
business and how a developer would want to utilize the property to the fullest.
He also stated Charleston is the heritage of Friendswood and people bonding
together is what makes up Friendswood.
Kathy Rogers, 207 Charleston stated the Home Owner Association is not
against development; however, this rezoning is different. She explained that
all the people who live in Pilgrim's Point subdivision have at least nine years
of dedication to the Pilgrims Point Subdivision by the residents there. She
stated there should be not compromise to this rezoning request.
Phyllis Peters, 105 Charleston stated that if Mr. Peterson's business goes bad
he is going to do whatever he needs to do to help his business survive. She is
against the rezoning.
Bill Peters, 105 Charleston reiterated what everyone else previously stated.
He is very concerned with what is going to become of the prope1ty in the
future if this rezoning is approved.
Bill Reeves, 201 Charleston agreed with everything that had been stated. In
addition he stated that this is one person's desire and not the desire of the
subdivision.
Russell Burkett, 309 Charleston stated he felt the arguments heard where
better than "not in my backyard" arguments. He also stated this is a one way
in, one way out subdivision and if this were to go through this would be
considered "spot zoning". He reiterated the concerns of h·affic and safety. In
addition he stated the petition that was before City Council and Planning and
Zoning were riot just from the residents in the subdivision but also from
businesses in the area. He asked the rezoning request be denied.
Page 4 of 5
6/6/05 P & Z
I C.A request for a zone classification change from 3 .1940 acres, situated in the
Sarah McK.issick League, Abstract No. 151, Reserve B, Park 518, Galveston,
County, TX; From: Neighborhood Commercial (NC) to: Community
Shopping Center (CSC).
John Montgomery of New Quest Prope1ties addressed City Council and
Planning and Zoning. Mr. Montgomery stated that the request for rezoning to
Community Shopping Center (CSC) was to allow for an automotive repair
shop to be constructed on the prope1ty.
The following is a synopsis of those who spoke in favor of the zone change
request.
Lewis Have, Operating Officer for Christian Automotive stated Christian
Automotive prides itself in being very honest. There are 31 stores in
Houston, which are ovvner operated. Christian Automotive works with the
community and it feels Friendswood is a place it would like to be. In
addition, the building is constructed of stone and brick and there are no
openings to the back of the building, which will face the child daycare on the
adjacent property.
The following is a synopsis of those who spoke against the zone change
request.
Rebecca Yeater, 206 Charleston stated she would like to see photos of the
repair shop and that she did not feel FM 518 was a place for that type of
business.
2.Adjournment
With no further comment the meeting was adjourned at 9:50 p.m.
Cleu�l ,Jk tlca. 1Ch ri Skelton
Development Coordinator
Page 5 of 5
6/6/05 P & Z